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Cucumbers are so Healthy: Calories, Carbohydrates and Other Nutritional Values

Cucumbers are considered healthy and draining slimmers that provide you with vitamins and minerals. Here you can find out more about nutrients, tips and myths about the low-calorie food.

Cucumbers: healthy and low in calories

With only about twelve kilocalories per 100 grams, cucumbers are one of the lowest-calorie foods. This is due to their high water content: a cucumber consists of around 95 percent water. In addition, cucumbers contain about three to four grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams and only minimal amounts of fat and protein.

However, the high water content also ensures that cucumbers only provide you with very small amounts of micronutrients. In particular, they contain vitamin C, some B vitamins and minerals such as potassium, zinc, calcium and magnesium. However, you would have to eat at least a kilo of cucumbers, so these amounts have a significant impact on the recommended daily dose.

Cucumbers: How to Use Them

Since cucumbers can only be eaten raw, they are a popular ingredient in salads. In Italian cuisine, they are also an essential ingredient for a fresh gazpacho. However, you can also use cucumbers in smoothies. The combination with fresh and sweet fruit such as pears, kiwis, apples or melons and some ginger or mint creates a refreshing and healthy drink.

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Storing Cucumbers: This Way They Stay Crisp for a Long Time

If you want to store cucumbers, you should consider a few things. In this article you will learn what you need to know to keep cucumbers fresh for a long time.

Cucumbers consist of 97 percent water and are therefore relatively sensitive. If you store them incorrectly, they are prone to staining and mildew. In this article you will get many tips on how to store cucumbers properly.

Since the micronutrients are concentrated in and under the skin, you should eat cucumbers unpeeled. Therefore, use cucumbers of organic quality: they are free of chemical-synthetic pesticides.

In Germany, cucumbers are in season between June and September. During this time they are available from regional cultivation. Regional products have shorter transport routes and therefore have a smaller CO2 footprint. You can get unpackaged organic cucumbers at farmer’s markets, from direct sellers in your area or in organic boxes. You can find more information about the season of different vegetables in the Utopia Seasonal Calendar.

Storing cucumbers: You should pay attention to this

It is best to buy cucumbers unpackaged. The plastic wrap is meant to protect the cucumber. However, sometimes the cucumber starts to mold faster due to the condensation under the foil because it is packed airtight. However, opinions differ on this. You can also read online that cucumbers wrapped in plastic wrap last longer. From the point of view of environmental protection, however, unpackaged cucumbers are preferable to those sealed in plastic. More about this here: What is more sustainable: organic or unpackaged?

How to store cucumbers correctly:

Store the cucumber in a dark and cool place in the pantry or basement. Cucumbers do well at temperatures between ten and 13 degrees Celsius. Properly stored cucumbers can be kept for up to three weeks.
If you don’t have a pantry or basement, store the cucumber in the crisper of your refrigerator. This is better than storing the cucumber at room temperature. Cucumbers only last four to five days in the fridge.
Stored at room temperature, you should use cucumbers within a day or two.
Avoid storing cucumbers near apples or tomatoes. The cucumbers ripen faster due to the escaping ethylene.
Because of the high water content, you should not freeze cucumbers. The cold destroys the cell structure and the cucumber becomes mushy.

Storing Cucumbers: Store chopped cucumbers

Once you cut the cucumber, you should use it as soon as possible.

Place the sliced cucumber in a sealable container. You can also store small leftover cucumbers in a jar.
Store the container in the refrigerator and use the cucumber within a day or two.
Before the next meal, remove the dried part of the cucumber and wash it thoroughly again.

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Food

Chinese Cucumber Salad with Squashed Cucumbers: Here’s How

The special thing about Chinese cucumber salad is the crushed cucumbers. The squeezing makes the light dish particularly crisp, refreshing and aromatic. We’ll show you a recipe for the healthy side dish.

Chinese cucumber salad is a popular side dish in Asian cuisine. Unlike the traditional cucumber salad, the cucumbers for this recipe are first squashed or smashed. Crushing creates small gaps that allow liquid to drain away. That’s why the Chinese cucumber salad will be particularly crisp later. In addition, the dressing can be better distributed in the small gaps and contributes to the aromatic, fresh taste.

When buying your ingredients, make sure they are organic. In this way you ensure that the food is free of chemical-synthetic pesticides. The organic seals from Demeter, Naturland or Bioland stand for high standards.

Cucumbers and other vegetables are usually available from regional cultivation during the season. This saves long transport routes and thus also CO2 emissions. In addition, by the way, it is very easy to grow cucumbers yourself.

Chinese cucumber salad: how to prepare it

Ingredients:

1 cucumber
1 tsp salt
2 cloves)garlic spring onion
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 teaspoon nectar
1 tsp soy sauce
0.5 tsp coriander, ground 1 red chilli (optional)

Directions:

Place the cucumber on a board and squash it until it’s split open on both sides. For example, use a rolling pin or another hard object.
Tip: You can cover the cucumber with a kitchen towel beforehand to prevent the cucumber juice from splashing around when you crush it.
Cut the mashed cucumber into small cubes, one to two centimeters in size.
Put the cucumber cubes in a fine sieve. Place a bowl underneath to drain excess liquid.
Mix the cucumber cubes with the salt and set them aside for 30 minutes.
Caution: If you skip this step, the Chinese cucumber salad will be too watery.
Meanwhile, finely chop the onions and garlic.
Mix together the sesame oil, rice vinegar, agave syrup, soy sauce and the ground coriander.
After resting, place the cucumbers in a salad bowl and mix with the dressing, onions, and garlic.
Optional: Chop the chilli very finely and garnish the Chinese cucumber salad with it.

Chinese cucumber salad goes well with these dishes

Chinese cucumber salad is a light dish. Eat it as a light lunch or as a snack between meals. If you’re having the cucumber salad as a main meal, serve it with some flatbread or fresh focaccia.

As a side dish, the Chinese cucumber salad goes particularly well with fresh vegetables. Cook the vegetables the Asian way, like in this vegetable curry with local ingredients or the Thai dish Pad See Ew. Serve cooked rice or rice noodles with salad and vegetables.

Spices and herbs such as coriander, mint, parsley and various types of chili also go well with the Chinese cucumber salad.

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Food

12 Amazing Facts About Cucumbers

Cucumbers are vegetables that many of us regularly eat. You cannot call them deficient – you can buy cucumbers in almost any store and at any time of the year. They occupy an important place in the culinary traditions of many countries. What do you know about Cucumbers?

  1. More than 95% of a cucumber is water.
  2. The homeland of cucumbers is the foot of the Himalayan mountains. There, cucumbers still grow in the wild by themselves.
  3. Cucumbers and melons share common ancestors.
  4. The history of cucumber as a vegetable grown for food goes back more than six thousand years.
  5. In Ecuador, there are cucumbers the size of a squash.
  6. In the United Arab Emirates, breeders bred cucumbers with square fruits.
  7. A kilogram of cucumbers contains only about 150 calories, which makes this vegetable a dietary product.
  8. The French emperor Napoleon promised a great reward to anyone who figured out how to keep cucumbers fresh during long military campaigns.
  9. The thorns on young cucumbers serve to remove excess moisture from the fruit.
  10. Cucumbers are mentioned in the Bible.
  11. The ancient Egyptians placed cucumbers in the tombs of their pharaohs along with other valuable gifts.
  12. The first ever greenhouses for year-round cultivation of cucumbers were built in ancient Rome for the emperor Tiberius, who wanted to eat these vegetables every day.
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